Claudio Ranieri's mum reveals secrets to Leicester manager's success

Renata Ranieri reveals Claudio eats his greens

(Getty)

The secret of Claudio Ranieri's success this season has been revealed - by his 96-year-old mother.

The Italian shocked all when he revealed he would miss the crucial game between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night to vist Renata in his hometown of Rome.

Ranieri, 64, missed the 2-2 draw, a result that handed unfancied Leicester City one of the most memorable titles in sports history.

In an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Renata has revealed what makes Claudio tick.

"My son needs to stay fit, so he almost never opts for a 'primo' (pasta served before the main meal). Instead he has green beans or a salad."

She added that he ate "a steak and a bit of cicoria ripassata" (spinach in olive oil) and strawberries with lemon juice and sugar for dessert.

"“All the newspapers [in Italy] are calling him the King of England, just imagine that. Claudio was so happy when I spoke to him on the phone. Now we can all relax a bit."

Renata revealed that Ranieri never expected to take the team so far. "He told me he had found a good bunch of players…but that he certainly wasn’t training a great team."